Shoulder-brace combined with abdominal supporter



Try $5, Fafwzfai/ fig. M97.

AM. PHOTO-LITHD. CD. RX. (OSBDRNE'S PRMESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. DARE, OF KNIGHTSTONN, INDIANA.

SHOULDER-BRACE COMBINED WITH ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,297, dated. August 12, 1851.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN S. DARE, of Knightstown, Henry county, Indiana, have made new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Braces and Uterine Supporters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, true, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification;

The principal object of my invention is so to arrange a brace for the shoulders or other parts of the human frame as to afford a firm yet elastic support without obstructing the circulation, or interfering with any of the vital functions or movements of the limbs and it is in the herein described peculiar arrangements of construction, for the attainment of these objects, that the feature of useful novelty exists.

In the annexed drawings in which the' same letters refer to like parts Figure 1 shows a front Fig. 2 a back and Fig. 3 a side view of the brace as applied to a patient and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a brace apart from the person.

In place of the loops or hands usually employed to brace thev shoulders, and which obstruct the circulation and confine the muscles I introduce two metallic bands or bars (a) combining wit-h the requisite firmness an amount of elasticity sufficient to yield to the motions of the body. These bars having a common point of attachment behind the body pass forward under the arm pits and terminate in pads (b) which resting upon the patients person in front of the clavicle, and two pads (0) bearing against the back on each side of the spine, and the said bars (a) being so bent as just to avoid touching the person at any other part, attains the desired object, without interfering with the operations of the body. Projecting clownward rectangularly from the junction of these shoulder bars is a bar (cl) which is united to another bar (6) by a pivot This lower bar (f) is firmly united to two bars (g) which passing around the body immediately above the hips terminate about opposite the center of the illiac region either by two pads or are united to a plate (h) as represented.

A pair of pads similar to those (0) above described are placed on the inner side of the bars one on each side of the spine. Bands (j) passing over the shoulder may be applied in particular cases to give additional support to the brace but will seldom be needed. The bar, while permitting of no extension longitudinally, allows by its elasticity, of a slight fore and aft play, and by its joint, of easy flexure sideways, but has withal sutficient fore and aft rigidity to hold the body upright when at rest, and being pierced with a number of pivot holes can be adjusted to its proper length. The bars only touching by the pads at a few points permit of the freest possible circulation and ventilation and involve the least possible amountof confinement.

In order to enable those interested to construct and apply my invention I here append a particular description of its manufacture. Firstly, in order to have the instrument fit easily, the measure of the patient must be taken with copper wire thus:

place one end of the wire immediately over the ninth dorsal vertebra, then carry it transversely around the body just so low as to be clear of the scapula, until at a point immediately beneath the axilla it must be curved upward and finally somewhat backward and outward so as to press upon the person opposite to the carrocoid process of the scapula, and beneath and in front of the clavicle, care being taken to have the patients shoulders in their natural position and also caution being had that the wire shall be shaped so as to fit smoothly through its whole course, but tightly nowhere except at the points before spoken of. This done the opposite side of the patient is to be meas ured in the same Way, and the two pieces of wire thus shaped, are to be carefully removed and used as patterns by which to forge the bars. The two back bars must be forged so as collectively to extend from the ninth dorsal vertebra to the third lumbar vertebra. and must be formed to the shape of the back. For the lower bars, place one end of the wire upon the third lumbar vertebra and carry it transversly around the body above the hip bone to the crest of the 0s illium then descending and converging bring it to the center of the illiac region where it must be made to press upward and backward. The lower bars may be attached to the pelvic plate by pins passing through slotted holes so as to admit of adjustment. These bars are all (for an adult) about an inch wide of spring-steel and having sulfi- 'cient thickness to give stiffness and yet a slight elasticity. The other parts of the construction need no particular explanation.

Having thus fully described the nature of my improvements, what I claim therein .as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent are 1. The bars ((4) having a common point of junction to a center bar at the back, passing thence under the armpits, and thence, forward upward and backward until their padded extremities bear upon the clavicle; the bar being so formed as to fit snugly without direct pressure upon the body except at the points at front and back as herein explained, giving the desired support to the shoulders without unnecessary confinement of the person or obstruction of its various functions and at the same time afiording through the medium of the bar ((5, 6,) a firm point of. attachment and support for a JNO. S. DARE.

Witnesses:

Gno. H. KNIGHT, I EDWARD H. KNIGHT. 

